Kobarid
Land of Living Water
The Kobarid historical trail
TOLMIN
KOBARID
6
KOBARID, one of the most renowned historical places in Slovenia, was already inhabited in
the Hallstat period and prospered in the Roman period. Nearby is a well known late Antiquity
mountain settlement called Tonocov Grad. The town is mainly known
for the aftermath of the Battle of Kobarid in October 1917, which placed
Kobarid on the world map. During the Second World War, Kobarid was the
centre of the liberated territory, called the Kobarid Republic.
The Kobarid Museum presents the story of these historical events and in
1993 it received the Council of Europe Museum Award.
The nearby Soča river offers excellent possibilities for kayaking, rafting,
fishing and other water sports.
The surrounding mountains offer superb conditions for hiking, gliding,
mountain biking and mountaineering.
Kobarid is also the culinary capital of the Primorska region, since it boasts
many excellent restaurants.
Kobarid
The Kobarid
historical trail
The trail links places around Kobarid,
where important historical, cultural
and natural monuments can be seen.
The trail is 5 km long, and the tour
takes three to five hours.
You can also hire tour guides;
to do so, call the TIC Kobarid
at +386 5 38 00 490,
e-mail: [email protected],
http://www.visit-soca.com
2
1
2
THE KOBARID MUSEUM
The Museum presents the First World War on the Isonzo (Soča) Front, focusing
on the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, known as the Battle of Kobarid. The battle
turned into one of the most violent clashes in the history of this mountainous
region, following the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo, which was the most
ferocious armed engagement Slovenia ever experienced. It was also the most
successful breakthrough operation in the First World War and one of the
first cases of a battle incorporating
Blitzkrieg strategic elements.
The Museum also presents the
history of the Kobarid region from its
inception through today.
1
In 1993, the Museum received
the Council of Europe Museum
Award recognising its contribution
towards European cultural heritage.
The Museum is open every day
throughout the year.
3
ITALIAN CHARNEL HOUSE
TONOCOV GRAD
Tonocov Grad Hill is a rocky elevation near Kobarid.
Due to its naturally secure position, it was used as
a settlement for many centuries. It was settled in
different periods from the Copper Age until the
Middle Ages. The settlement’s heyday was in late
Roman and late Antiquity period, between 4th and
6th century AD. Towards the end of the 5th century,
a settlement with over twenty houses and several
churches was built on the hill. The building remains
are in excellent condition. These remains and rich
findings place Tonocov Grad among the most
important late Antiquity mountain settlements in
the eastern Alps.
The Charnel House was built on Gradič Hill
near the Church of St. Anton. The Stations
of the Cross are erected along the road,
leading to the Charnel House.
In 1938, the Charnel House was opened by
Benito Mussolini. It has an octagonal shape
and is constructed with three concentric
circles that narrow as they rise. The Church
of St. Anton, consecrated in 1696, is built
at the very top. Mortal remains of 7,014
known and unknown Italian soldiers who
had been killed in the First World War were
carried to the Charnel House from nearby
army cemeteries.
3
The Kobarid historical trail
6
KOZJAK WATERFALLS
The Kozjak brook, feeding the Soča river from the east (on
the left), springs high beneath Mt. Krnčica (2142 m), and runs
through many pools making six waterfalls. One of Slovenia’s
most picturesque waterfalls, the Veliki Kozjak, was created in
the outlet of the lower Korita of the Kozjak Brook. Here, the
waterfall carved an underground hall. Its bottom is covered
by a vast blue and green pool, and its walls are reminiscent of
those in the Karst caves. A 15 meter high white water column
offers its visitors an unforgettable scenery.
4
4
6
5
ITALIAN LINE OF DEFENCE
A path leading from Tonocov Grad leads us to the
Soča river. In the past, the path was already used
by the native peoples and was partly completed by
the Italian soldiers during the First World War.
6
SOČA GORGE
From Trnovo ob Soči to Kobarid the Soča River
runs in a deep gorge with several pools, rapids
and huge rocks in the river bed. Before the
Napoleon Bridge, the upper Soča flow ends in a
gorge (Korita) approximately 200 meters long,
up to 15 meters deep and in some places only 2
meters wide.
During the First World War, the Italian army built
three defence lines in the Soča region. A part of the
third line of defence wound along both banks of
the Soča river. The historic path leads us through
trenches, forts and buildings defending the pass
through the Soča river and the Soča Valley, as well
as the roads on the right bank of the river.
Both banks of the Soča are connected with a
new 52 meter long footbridge, constructed
on the very spot where a wooden footbridge
had been during the First World War. The
new footbridge was constructed in 1998 by
the Kobarid Museum and the Kobarid Tourist
Society.
5
9
A - The Kobarid historical trail
B - Trail to Veliki rob
C - Huljo’s trail
D - Trail to Ozben
E - Soča trail
7
ITALIAN LINE OF DEFENCE
Upon our return from the Kozjak waterfalls the
path branches upwards on the left, towards
fortresses built around the time of the First
World War. A gun emplacement and observation
post sits on the top of the rise. Not far away,
a regulated cavern is pressed deep into the
slope. It is a part of many shelters, arranged in a
system of circular defence. The majority of these
have been filled in; three, however, have been
unearthed. The top of the observation point
offers a beautiful view over a large part of the
historic path and over the green Soča pools.
From this point on, the path branches off,
leading on marked military roads on the slopes
of Ozben towards Drežnica and Ladra.
8
NAPOLEON BRIDGE
Both Soča banks below Kobarid were already
linked in the past by a bridge. The old bridge was
constructed in 1750 and received its name when
Napoleon’s troops marched across it.
On 24 May 1915, the first day after the First World
War had been declared, the retreating Austrian
soldiers blew up the bridge. Afterwards, the Italians
initially built a wooden bridge, later replacing it with
an iron one.
In the Second World War, the Partisans
defended the liberated territory of the
Kobarid Republic near the bridge. In memory
of these events there are two memorial
sculptures near the bridge.
9
9
Information:
LTO Sotočje, TIC Kobarid
Trg svobode 16, 5222 Kobarid
tel.: +386 5 38 00 490
e-mail: [email protected]
www.visit-soca.com
Viewpoint
Health centre
Lodging
Autocamp
Marked tourist
footpath
Pharmacy
Inn
Rock climbing
Bank, bankomat
Station Service
Bar
Paragliding - landing
Post office
Automobile repair shop
Alimentary store
Kayak - acces / exit point
Carpark
Hotel
Archeological site
WWI remnants
CHEESE MUSEUM
The cheese museum is a museum of
the Dairy Planika that has developed
its delicious products from the manycenturies-long dairy tradition of the
upper Soča valley. The inheritance of
mountains and pastures is presented with
ethnological exhibits, a documentary and
a reconstruction of a mountain residence
with all the dairy equipment. In the little
shop you can buy the famous cheese
Tolminc, other dairy products and various
typical products of home manufacture.
8
Issued: LTO Sotočje, 2010; Financed by: Občina Kobarid;
Photographs: Željko Cimprič, Janko Humar, Matevž Lenarčič,
Marko Grego; Maps: Mateja Sirk Fili; Translation: Eurotranslate;
Design: Ivana Kadivec; Repro: Scanart; Printed by: Grafika Soča